Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 2006. / Title from title page screen, viewed on April 26, 2007. Dissertation Committee: James C. Palmer, Phyllis McCluskey-Titus (co-chairs), W. Paul Vogt, Dianne C. Gardner. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 195-200) and abstract. Also available in print.

The larger research project seeks to examine the role of technology and factors that influence its overall use and efficacy in supporting a community of teachers engaged in professional development. This thesis examines factors that appear to influence teacher participation in the online community of practice engaging in an overarching research project conducted by Dr. Balcaen and a team from UBC O Faculty of Education and funded by the Southern Alberta Professional Development Consortium (SAPDC). The two groups are acting in partnership for supporting and sustaining communities of practice in social studies in southern Alberta. SAPDC is allowing teachers release time to engage in the project while TC² is providing professional development for the participant teachers to become proficient at embedding TC² critical thinking tools into their classroom practices. Various technologies are used during this study as part of the design of providing professional development for the participants including supporting an online community presence. The guiding question for this thesis is: In a blended approach of face-to-face and online supported professional development for embedding critical thinking into the new social studies curriculum, what significant factors appear to influence teacher participation in the online community of practice during the first year of the project? Overall results during the first year of this project show that various technologies used during the project are valuable and effective in nurturing this community of practice by enabling and promoting collaboration, communication, and the completion and delivery of products to be used in teaching the new curriculum. I also examine negative factors that appear to prevent some teachers’ technology use and online participation and collaboration during this project. Findings show that there are several significant factors that influence participation in the online community and while some participants are reluctant to engage or enter the online environment, others have emerged as leaders and play a significant role in building and sustaining the community of practice. These results provide critical information about implementing and integrating an online component and using technology to sustain communities of practice engaged in this form of teacher professional development.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

The larger research project seeks to examine the role of technology and factors that influence its overall use and efficacy in supporting a community of teachers engaged in professional development. This thesis examines factors that appear to influence teacher participation in the online community of practice engaging in an overarching research project conducted by Dr. Balcaen and a team from UBC O Faculty of Education and funded by the Southern Alberta Professional Development Consortium (SAPDC). The two groups are acting in partnership for supporting and sustaining communities of practice in social studies in southern Alberta. SAPDC is allowing teachers release time to engage in the project while TC² is providing professional development for the participant teachers to become proficient at embedding TC² critical thinking tools into their classroom practices. Various technologies are used during this study as part of the design of providing professional development for the participants including supporting an online community presence. The guiding question for this thesis is: In a blended approach of face-to-face and online supported professional development for embedding critical thinking into the new social studies curriculum, what significant factors appear to influence teacher participation in the online community of practice during the first year of the project? Overall results during the first year of this project show that various technologies used during the project are valuable and effective in nurturing this community of practice by enabling and promoting collaboration, communication, and the completion and delivery of products to be used in teaching the new curriculum. I also examine negative factors that appear to prevent some teachers’ technology use and online participation and collaboration during this project. Findings show that there are several significant factors that influence participation in the online community and while some participants are reluctant to engage or enter the online environment, others have emerged as leaders and play a significant role in building and sustaining the community of practice. These results provide critical information about implementing and integrating an online component and using technology to sustain communities of practice engaged in this form of teacher professional development.

The value of teachers' perceptions of science is noted, given that teachers play an active part in implementing curricula. The possibility that teacher's perceptions of science may be different from the image of science portrayed in the official curriculum is considered. Given that during the apartheid era, education was dominated both politically and culturally by one group, objections to the ideological-cultural dimension of the official curriculum were expected. An exposition of the philosophical basis for science teaching and curriculum development is attempted. A process model of curriculum is adopted as it is seen as more effective in portraying the political context of curriculum practice. It is argued that both curriculum practice and the notion of being "scientific" are not objective but depend on the dominant culture. Therefore, there is a need to be open-minded and eclectic about the notion of being "scientific". An attempt is made to identify teachers ' perceptions rather than test the teachers' perceptions against a given norm. In this context a qualitative approach is attempted in identifying teachers perceptions of science by using unstructured and open-ended interviews. A content analysis of the overarching philosophical view in prescribed books and syllabus documents is attempted. Findings are that , broadly speaking teachers perceptions of science were not dissimilar from those in the official curriculum when the study was conducted. In making recommendations for curriculum development it is noted that teachers views need to be accommodated. However including teachers in curriculum development should go hand in hand with workshops to raise teachers awareness o f the issues involved. It is also argued that there is a need f or separate curricula for those who go on to be scientists as well as those who need science for their general education. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Natal, Durban, 1994.

The promulgation into law of the South African Schools Act (SASA) in 1996 ushered a new era in South African school management and governance. Informed by a number of values such as accountability, transparency and participation that permeate the new South African Constitution, the SASA has decentralised certain powers to the local stakeholders at school level. It meant that teachers, principals, parents and learners (in high schools) can work together towards a common vision for the school. The School Governing Body was installed as the powerful legal structure. Teachers, as one of the important stakeholders, are represented in the SGB and can participate in school decision making processes. Teachers are important stakeholder because they are the ones who are at the critical level since they deal directly with the learners. Their participation inside and outside the SGB is important. Given the above background, a case study of two primary schools was conducted. The two schools were sampled using the convenience and purposive sampling methods. Semi-structured interviews and document analysis were used to gather data. Four teachers, two from each school were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews were deemed appropriate for this study because they give the researcher an opportunity to ask follow-up questions. This study documented teachers narratives about their experiences regarding their participation in the decision-making processes that relate to school financial management. Through teachers’ narratives, the factors that hindered or promoted their participation were also explored. The findings indicated that teacher participation in school financial decision making did exist in the case study schools but was minimal. Teacher participation seemed to be more confined to the operational decision such as making a list of classroom needs that should be part of the school budget. However, teachers were found not to be involved in strategic decisions where decisions on issues such as setting financial goals of the school were made. It was also found that, despite their minimal involvement, teachers were satisfied with the role that they were playing in the school financial decision making processes. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood, 2011.

The purpose of the study was to create a differentiated staff paradigm for a new senior high school with a prescribed learning program but without a designated faculty. The paradigm was designed by identifying elements of a viable differentiated staffing pattern from a review of related literature and research, and incorporating the elements into a predetermined learning program for the selected school. The school selected for the study was a new senior high school in Elkhart, Indiana, which was under construction at the time the study was being conducted. The school was scheduled to open in September of 1972.The review of related literature and research included an examination of existing theory related to differentiated staffing and a description of three models of existing differentiated staffing programs. A review of the planning history and basic foundations for the school being studied was presented. Concepts upon which were developed the educational specifications for the high school, and which related directly to staffing considerations for the school, were described.A rationale for the paradigm explained why the selected school appeared to be an appropriate one to consider a differentiated staffing arrangement. The rationale reviwed process considerations for development of a differentiated staff paradigm. From the review essential elements of a differentiated staffing plan were identified and these elements were used as a framework for presenting a paradigm for the selected school.General conclusions drawn from the study included:1. Sufficient research on differentiated staffing programs does not exist to draw absolute conclusions about the concept.2. The process of relating a review of research and literature to a defined learning program for an impending high school can be utilized to design a differentiated staffing paradigm for that school.3. A functional differentiated staff will be founded on specialization of job responsibilities while insuring flexible utilization of individual competencies.4. Teachers must be intimately involved in the planning and implementation of a differentiated staffing program.5. The existence of a differentiated staffing pattern in one school will affect administrative and decision-making functions on a system-wide basis.6. Individuals accepting differentiated staffing positions with broader job scope than traditional teaching assignments accept, concurrently, a greater degree of responsibility.7. The greater the responsibility in a differentiated staffing position the greater should be the remuneration and involvement in decision making in that position.8. Evaluation of performance within a differentiated staff should be based upon measured achievement of described tasks.9. The role of the principal cannot be an autonomous one in a school which employs a differentiated staffing pattern.10. Both pre-service and continuous in-service training activities are vital to success of a differentiated staffing plan.11. In order to relate specialized positions to defined goals and individual skills, periodic evaluation and resultant restructuring of a differentiated staff organization is called for.Recommendations for further study were as follows:1. If a differentiated staff plan should be implemented within the selected high school a study of the actual plan vis-a-vis the pattern posed in the paradigm should be made.2. Successes and limitations of differentiated staffing programs in achieving stated objectives should be measured.3. Contrasting methods of evaluation of performance in a differentiated staff should be compared and analyzed.4. The effect of a differentiation of assignment on staff performance and morale should be assessed.5. The effect of implementing a differentiated staffing pattern in one school on the system-wide educational program should be studied.6. The relationship between differentiated teaching assignments and a concept of accountability in achieving educational goals and objectives should be reviewed.7. The role of the principal in a differentiated staff should be analyzed and reported.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Education Policy and Management, 2004. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 275-298).

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Western Sydney, Nepean, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references.